The City of Philadelphia celebrated two years of offering free pre-Kindergarten classes across the city Friday. Mayor Jim Kenney (D) joined city officials and educators in southwest Philadelphia to mark one of his major social policy achievements in his first term in office.

On Tuesday afternoon the House Commerce committee brought up House Bill 2241, Rep. Mark Mustio's (R-Allegheny) bill that preempts local taxation of sweetened beverages in Pennsylvania. It prohibits any municipality from levying such a tax while invalidating the current soda tax in Philadelphia.

The bill passed out of committee but not before Rep. Curtis Thomas (D-Philadelphia), minority chairman of the committee, brought up his concerns and offered amendments. Following the vote he spoke with the PLS Reporter about what happens now.

Pittsburgh City Councilman Rev. Ricky Burgess introduced legislation Wednesday that aims to eliminate the waiting list Pittsburgh children face when enrolling in pre-kindergarten by establishing a scholarship fund supported by major foundations and educational and medical institutions.

According to the legislation, Pittsburgh Public Schools provides free, full-day pre-kindergarten for students ages three to five but had a waiting list of roughly 340 students for the 2015-2016 academic year.

Gov. Tom Wolf Tuesday joined pre-K students in his reception room where he discussed the importance of investing early in Pennsylvania's youth. Gov. Wolf stated he has proposed a $75 million increase in pre-k and early childhood education as part of his 2017-2018 budget proposal.